Degradation Pathways in Glass/Glass Bifacial Photovoltaics with Emerging Encapsulants and Half-Cut Cells

DuraMAT 2.0 Project

Fielded Module Forensics

Recipient NREL (PI: Kern, Dana)

Subs None

Status Awarded

Abstract Two ways to increase photovoltaic (PV) power generation per area are: (1) bifacial PV, which can generate 10-30% higher power compared to monofacial, and (2) half-cell modules, which decrease cell-to-module losses by lessening resistive power dissipation. While deployment of both technologies is rapidly growing, there is a lag in fundamental understanding of the new module packaging requirements and degradation processes. Here, we will combine accelerated stress testing, outdoor characterization, and microscopy/chemical failure analysis to understand the module packaging materials’ degradation mechanisms specific to these emerging module designs with particular attention to: (1) New encapsulant chemistries in bifacial glass/glass (G/G) structures; and (2) Potential for improved durability in half-cell modules with lower resistive power dissipation at interconnect regions.